Praying for What’s Right – Part 2 of 3
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Psalm 119:9-16
Sometimes when I engage in dialogues with God, I wish He would really speak to me in no uncertain terms – I mean, tell me exactly what I want to know….. make it, audibly God!
Seriously, don’t you just wish God would speak to you that distinctly sometimes? The problem is, often times it’s not whether God speaks but whether we listen! For the most part, what He wants to communicate to us, He already has – every second, every minute, everyday. But like I said, do we always listen? No. Disregarding and disobeying what God wants of us is a daily occurrence. We deceive ourselves into thinking that if God would speak to us in an audible voice that somehow we would find it easier to be obedient. The truth is we would struggle just as much as we do now. I think it would just give us more pressure than we can handle. Honestly, I may freak out if God speaks to me audibly! And I’m not sure you won’t either.
Besides, God already communicates with us and He has given us His written Word so that we would know Him better. He also speaks through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, through dreams, visions, experiences…..even people! How many times have you listened to someone and you reflect on it and say, “God spoke to me”?
Let’s reconnect with what we said yesterday about praying that God would help us to STAY ON COURSE. The reality is that it doesn’t take much for us to stray – knowingly or unknowingly – if we don’t have a track to follow. And the track is God’s Word! So, our prayer should be like David’s in Psalm 119:9 & 11: PRAY ABOUT LIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORD.
God wants us to seriously consider how we can put His word into action in our lives…how to progress from “hearing and reading the word” to “doing the word”! In this passage, David suggests 3 things:
A. It’s possible to live a Purer life (v.9). The verse clearly answers the question that’s asked: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” That’s cut and dry, isn’t it? His word must set the parameters by which we measure our thoughts and actions daily. As we get to know His word, it becomes the standard and the benchmark for how we live our lives!
B. The secret is in the seeking (v.10a). “I will seek you with all my heart”. With that phrase the psalmist gives us the secret of staying on course. About 500 to a thousand years before Jesus, David gives us a prelude to what Jesus would eventually teach as the Greatest Commandment: To seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When we make a conscious choice to seek God with all we’ve got … with all sincerity, we discover that all of our subsequent steps reflect that choice.
The danger is: Many times we play games with God. We manipulate Him. We just create the appearance that we love Him and that we want to serve Him. But when things go wrong or when we don’t get what we want, we abandon Him and His precepts. We play church and reduce Christianity to a game!
What are we thinking? Do we really think we can fool God? The lesson is simple, though….desire the things of God and He helps us stay on track.
C. It is possible to live a Sin-Resistant life. Verse 11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Get a hold of this, tight! Many Christians live their lives with guilt still hanging around their necks like chains. The reminder is clear in this verse. The more in touch and in tune we are with the Word of God, the more realistic it becomes for us to resist sin. Sure, there are going to be momentary slip ups here and there – but I’m talking about a sinful lifestyle that should be out of the question if and when God’s word is hidden in a Christian’s heart! Just like anything in our lives, our heart is like a vacuum – a sponge if you may. Something’s got to fill it. It’s either SIN or GOD AND HIS WORD. Take your pick!
